Drury calls city council actions ‘drastic, negative’
by Marianne Gasaway
Swaledale is beginning the new year without its longtime mayor, public works director and city clerk.
Mayor John Drury submitted his resignation to the city office in letter form on Dec. 30. The letter also referenced the resignation of Public Works Director Marshal Polsdofer and City Clerk Melissa Simmons.
Drury and Polsdofer’s resignations were effective Jan. 3; Simmons will be done Jan. 5.
“In the past year, a majority of the city council has made some very poor decisions that has drastically and negatively impacted the working conditions for these two employees,” Drury stated in his letter. “To say that it’s unfortunate for a small town to lose highly qualified people in these two positions is an understatement.”
He continued, “With the majority of the city council willing to put their own personal agendas ahead of anything else, that doesn’t appreciate the value of highly qualified employees, and doesn’t even understand the basic role of local government, I find myself without the necessary resources to effectively manage the city in the manner you expect and deserve. Therefore, I see no other choice but to resign my position as Mayor effective Jan. 3, 2023.”
Drury, who has served as mayor for 20 years, informed the city council earlier that he would do his best to reduce the impact of the council’s decision to reduce hours and change the duties of its public works director. However, he said he could not limit the negative impact and blamed “the majority of council members for continuing to make it impossible to manage the town and provide what is expected from the city.”
He said decisions made by council members in an attempt to save the city money, will actually cost taxpayers greatly.
Without Polsdofer, Drury said the city will need to hire a new maintenance person, as well as contract with a DNR certified water and wastewater affidavit operator and pay a monthly rate, generally in the range of $600 to $800 per month, in addition to paying a maintenance person.
Drury also cautioned that if Swaledale would unincorporate, it would lose its Post Office, library and fire depart-ment.
“With a council that makes these types of decisions, treats good employees unfairly, and willingly violates the Open Meetings Law to accomplish their goals, we will undoubtedly face unincorporating,” he stated,
Drury’s Dec. 30 letter to residents urged them to contact council members immediately and “demand they start making decisions that are in the best interests of the city, as opposed to catering to a few people that don’t value good employees, and simply don’t understand local government and how it’s supposed to work.”
Drury contacted the Mirror-Reporter Jan. 3 to confirm his resignation. He said Mayor Pro-Tem John Bonner has also resigned.
